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Baristas in Virginia

Considering working as a Baristas in Virginia? Here’s what you need to know. Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages. Counter attendants who also wait tables are included in “Waiters and Waitresses” (35-3031),

$29,060 Median Annual Wage (Virginia)

$29,815 National Median Annual Wage

103,390 Virginia Employment

Some Preparation Needed Typical Preparation

What do Baristas Make in Virginia?

For baristas working in Virginia, the typical annual salary is $29,060 per year (or roughly $13.97/hour).Annual wages span from $26,640 at the 10th percentile to $36,420 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$26,640	$12.81
25th percentile	$27,630	$13.29
Median (50th)	$29,060	$13.97
75th percentile	$34,140	$16.41
90th percentile	$36,420	$17.51

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Virginia relative to the national average — is 1.04.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, baristas earn a median of $29,815 per year ($14.33/hour), below the Virginia median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 883,432 baristas nationwide. In Virginia alone, around 103,390 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 44,110 baristas.

Top Virginia Metros for Baristas

These are the Virginia metros with the most baristas in Virginia.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	22,220	$27,960
Richmond, VA	16,920	$28,460
Roanoke, VA	3,430	$26,990
Lynchburg, VA	3,280	$27,190
Charlottesville, VA	2,860	$30,140
Harrisonburg, VA	2,470	$29,060
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA	2,130	$26,690
Winchester, VA-WV	1,610	$28,020
Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA	1,410	$27,470

Top States for Baristas Employment

The table below shows the states where the most baristas work.

State	Number Employed
California	438,950
Texas	410,760
Florida	241,010
New York	183,810
Ohio	167,650
Georgia	151,240
Illinois	139,090
Pennsylvania	131,650
Michigan	114,880
Virginia	103,390
Indiana	101,500
Washington	94,830
New Jersey	86,980
Arizona	86,640
North Carolina	85,120
Tennessee	84,170
Massachusetts	81,770
Colorado	78,720
South Carolina	63,380
Wisconsin	60,570

Highest-Paying States for Baristas

These states pay the most for baristas.

State	Annual Median Salary
District of Columbia	$38,240
California	$37,010
Washington	$36,820
Colorado	$35,440
New York	$35,270
Massachusetts	$35,060
Vermont	$34,540
Alaska	$34,430
Oregon	$34,430
Maine	$34,360

Skills

Key baristas skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Active Listening 3.5 / 5

Service Orientation 3.4 / 5

Speaking 3.4 / 5

Social Perceptiveness 3.1 / 5

Monitoring 3.0 / 5

Reading Comprehension 3.0 / 5

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Customer and Personal Service 4.2 / 5

English Language 3.3 / 5

Sales and Marketing 3.0 / 5

Food Production 2.8 / 5

Administration and Management 2.5 / 5

Mathematics 2.5 / 5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for baristas, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Oral Comprehension 3.8 / 5

Oral Expression 3.6 / 5

Speech Clarity 3.5 / 5

Speech Recognition 3.4 / 5

Near Vision 3.2 / 5

Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.1 / 5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, baristas typically:

Receive and process customer payments.
Prepare or serve hot or cold beverages, such as coffee, espresso drinks, blended coffees, or teas.
Take customer orders and convey them to other employees for preparation.
Clean or sanitize work areas, utensils, or equipment.
Describe menu items to customers, or suggest products that might appeal to them.
Clean service or seating areas.
Serve prepared foods, such as muffins, biscotti, or bagels.
Prepare or serve menu items, such as sandwiches or salads.
Set up or restock product displays.
Weigh, grind, or pack coffee beans for customers.
Stock customer service stations with paper products or beverage preparation items.
Wrap, label, or date food items for sale.

Work Activities

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
Controlling Machines and Processes
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Handling and Moving Objects
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Performing General Physical Activities
Training and Teaching Others
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Getting Information
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Other careers like baristas include:

Also Known As

Barista, Cafe Barista, Catering Barista, Coffee Bar Attendant, Coffee Barista, Coffee Brewer, Coffee Maker, Coffee Shop Attendant, Coffee Sommelier, Gourmet Coffee Attendant, Juicer, Server.

References

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
O*NET-SOC code: 35-3023.01

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